Two-photon laser-assisted reaction with Xe/Cl2 to form XeCl and with Xe/ICl to form XeCl and XeI

Two-photon laser-assisted reactions yielding XeCl(B,C) in 5 to 15-torr Xe/Cl2 mixtures and XeCl(B,C) and XeI(B,C) in 5 to 15-torr Xe/ICl mixtures have been observed. The order dependence, the time dependence, and the excitation wavelength dependence are consistent with transfer from the ground-state, nonreactive potential to an excited-state, reactive potential followed by chemical reaction. The reactive potential may be the ion pair potential, V(Xe+,Cl2-), or a potential involving electronically excited chlorine, V(Xe,Cl2**), or more likely a mixed potential having character of both states. 3 figures